computing Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and development of both hardware and software. Computing has scientific, ...

, scratch input is an acoustic-based method of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) that takes advantage of the characteristic sound produced when a finger nail or other object is dragged over a surface, such as a table or wall. The technique is not limited to fingers; a stick or writing implements (e.g. chalk, or a pen) can also be used. The sound is often inaudible to the naked ear (i.e., silent). However, specialized microphones can digitize the sounds for interactive purposes. Scratch input was invented by Mann et al. in 2007,Steve Mann,
Natural Interfaces for Musical Expression: Physiphones and a physics-based organology
, Proceedings of the 2007 Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME07), June 6–10, New York, NY, USA.Steve Mann, Ryan Janzen, Raymond Lo, and Chris Aimone,
Inventing new instruments based on a computational `hack' to make a badly tuned or unpitched instrument play in perfect harmony
, Proceedings of the 2007 International Computer Music Conference (ICMC2007), August 27–31, Copenhagen.Steve Mann, Ryan Janzen and Raymond Lo,
Hyperacoustic instruments: Computer-controlled instruments that are not electrophones
, Proc. International IEEE conference (ICME 2008), Hannover, Germany, June 23–26, 2008. though the term was first used by

Chris Harrison Christopher Bryan Harrison (born July 26, 1971) is an American television and game show host, best known for his role as the host of the ABC reality television dating show '' The Bachelor'' from 2002 to 2021. He also hosted its spin-offs '' T ...

et al.Harrison, Chris and Hudson, Scott E
"Scratch Input: Creating Large, Inexpensive, Unpowered and Mobile finger Input Surfaces"
In Proceedings of the 21st Annual ACM Symposium on User interface Software and Technology. UIST '08. ACM, New York, NY, 205-208

History

A natural interface for musical expression operating on scratch input principles was first published and presented in June 2007. Later that year, it was extended to an implementation on a smartphone and also a

wearable computer A wearable computer, also known as a body-borne computer, is a computing device worn on the body. The definition of 'wearable computer' may be narrow or broad, extending to smartphones or even ordinary wristwatches. Wearables may be for general ...

system. In 2008, the Scratch Input project demonstrated a mobile device input system utilizing scratch input, simultaneously popularizing the term. This system captured audio transmitted through a surface on which a mobile phone was placed, enabling the entire surface to be used as an input device.

Uses

Scratch input is an enabling input technique that is used in multitude of applications. The earliest application was a highly expressive musical instrument (Mann et al.) for use with mobile devices on natural objects, surfaces, or the like, as a non-synthesizing (i.e. idiophonic) musical instrument. Harrison et al. proposed it to create large, ad hoc gestural input areas when mobile devices are rested on tables. Scratch Input musical cyborg

Commercial potential

Microsoft has expressed interest in Scratch Input.

References

{{reflist Human–computer interaction User interfaces Experimental musical instruments Canadian inventions

History

Uses

Commercial potential

See also

References